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Posted: March 12, 2026 (1 day ago)

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command

Department of the Air Force

Fresh

Location

Salary

$74,678 - $97,087

per year

Closes

GS-9 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $51,332 - $66,732

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-8. Master's degree or 2 years graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves managing public affairs for the Air Force Reserve Command, including creating news releases, brochures, and other materials to communicate about Air Force programs to the public, media, and internal teams.

It also covers building relationships with staff and other agencies to share information effectively.

A good fit would be someone with strong writing and communication skills, experience in media or public relations, and the ability to work in a military reserve environment while meeting Air Force requirements.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GS-9 level or equivalent, involving public affairs duties like internal information, media relations, and community engagement
  • Master's degree or equivalent graduate education (or 2 years of progressively higher graduate education) in a relevant field, or a combination of education and experience totaling 100% of requirements
  • Knowledge of communication principles, methods, and techniques for developing written and visual information materials
  • Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting data to identify problems and make recommendations
  • Ability to plan, develop, and design news stories, features, and layouts for public affairs products
  • Knowledge of Air Force Reserve requirements and ability to maintain them as an Air Reserve Technician (ART) position
  • Time-in-grade requirement: One year at GS-9 level if currently in or recently held a GS position

Full Job Description

This is an Air Reserve Technician (ART) position. ARTs are part of the regular career civil service and enjoy all the benefits granted to Federal employees in the competitive civil service.

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, Public Affairs Series, 1035.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems.

Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of written and oral communication methods and techniques and skill in applying this knowledge in accomplishing wide range of duties for an organization's public affairs program involving internal information, media relations, and community engagement activities.

Skill in modifying standard methods and adapting approaches to develop new information materials including news releases, fact sheets, brochures, booklets, broadcast spots, etc.

aimed at enhancing the understanding of various groups or individuals of the significant issues of Air Force programs.

OR EDUCATION: Applicants must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B.

or J.D. in a field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.

OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.

FEDERALTIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible.

One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1.

Knowledge of and skill in applying the principles, methods, practices, and techniques of communication to the development of written and visual information. 2.

Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting data to identify potential problems, arrive at valid conclusions, and offer meaningful recommendations. 3.

Ability to plan and develop news stories and features as well as design and layout final product. 4.

Ability to present information in a logical, clear concise manner to audiences with differing levels of comprehension. 5. Knowledge of the means and methods used to evaluate news significance. 6.

Skill in developing and maintaining effective relationships with AFRC staff, AFRC PAOs, counterparts at MAJCOMs, and other DoD/USAF agencies to obtain and convey needed information.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONT'D: 1. This is an Air Reserve Technician (ART) enlisted position. The incumbent is required to meet and maintain Air Force Reserve requirements.

Work schedule will be aligned to allow incumbent to fully participate in unit training assemblies (UTA).

The incumbent's regular assignments are ART duties; however, the incumbent maybe assigned some non-ART duties, generally not to exceed 30 percent of total responsibilities. 2.

Incumbent is subject to uncommon tours of duty. 3. Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work.

You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

This is an Air Reserve Technician (ART) position. ARTs are eligible for 15 days active duty tour each year for which military leave is granted with full civilian pay.

Air Reserve units and members; are subject to immediate call to active duty in mobilization to meet a national emergency.

For additional information regarding ART positions and/or military qualifications, please call 1-800-257-1212. Retired military are usually ineligible for membership in the AF Reserve.

Retired military that have active AF Reserve assignments may apply provided they show assignment (position) on the application.

A military service member's statement of service/certification will be accepted IF a terminal leave form or DD214 cannot be provided.

The statement/certification should indicate member's separation from active duty is within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin, your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e.

honorable). Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment.

Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave.

Individuals selected for ART positions must meet both civilian qualifications and uniformed military requirements.

In addition to meeting civilian qualifications, applicants must obtain military membership in the Air Force Reserve, wear the uniform, maintain job-specific military specialty requirements, and meet other military qualifications such as age, height, weight, and physical fitness standards.

For more information click here and speak with an Air Force Reserve Recruiter. Major Duties:

The primary purpose of this position is: to serve as an Air Reserve Technician (ART) enlisted position located in the Public Affairs Office (PAO) of an Air Force Reserve wing.

The incumbent functions as the senior NCO/Public Affairs Super intendent responsible for accomplishing a wide range of wing public affairs assignments that include elements of internal information, media operations, social media, community engagement, command information, visual information, communication planning, contingency/crisis response, special event planning, environmental, security, policy review, and resource management in support of the mission and the Commander's/Director's priorities.

In addition, trains reservists in the accomplishment of the tasks set forth herein.

DUTY 1: Coordinates the planning and development of complex, high level public affairs assignments in support of commander's programs and priorities.

Coordinates with MAJCOM, wing leadership, internal audiences and external audiences to create the annual strategic communication plan.

Integrates media operations, social media, community engagement, command information, visual information, communication planning, contingency/crisis response, special events planning, environmental, security and policy review, and resource management activities.

DUTY 2: Provides technical guidance and policy interpretation to the military and civilian managers ofan Air Force Reserve wing regarding internal information, media relations, community relations and administrative functions for the Reserve units.

Advises on communication implications to plans, policies and programs.

Provides PA inputs to operational plans; assesses current tactics to achieve program objectives and research new ways to communicate key messages to various audiences.

Oversees procedures used in collecting, evaluating and disseminating news and information.

Ensures that all proposed materials comply with federal law, Department of Defense, Air Force, Numbered Air Force and AFRC regulations and requirements.

DUTY 3: Accomplishes work for the wing media relations program. Develops and maintains effective relationships with national, regional, and local news media representatives.

Plans and arranges news media coverage; maintains an active web/social media presence; and arranges, advises on, and provides visual information services for documentation and publicity purposes.

Produces and maintains electronic and web-based information products. Implements all social media platforms including wing app.

Monitors all social media platforms, posting for tone and responding appropriately to message and comments within each platform.

Provides input and guidance for all wing leadership on social media usage including live streaming. Ensures 508 compliance on all electronic media platforms.

DUTY 4: Performs duties for the internal information program. Uses a variety of vehicles including newsletters, newspapers, flyers, bulletins, pamphlets, etc.

to notify personnel about programs, awards and special recognition, training opportunities, employee benefits, wing activities, etc.

Writes and/or edits written materials and plans design or layout of materials, ensuring compliance with Air Force regulations. DUTY 5: Executes the Employer Support Program.

Serves as a member of the unit's employer support council and as a member on the state Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) committee.

Works closely with representatives from the wing and community to construct employer support programs for civilian employers of reservists.

Ensures that reservists are informed of their rights and responsibilities under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/12/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/12/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 7Q-ARTE-12907469-183339-TS